Names In The News

Stoudemire said he has taken summer courses at Arizona State and Univ. of Miami

Knicks F AMAR'E STOUDEMIRE in a special to NEWSWEEK writes, "My favorite mistake was going to the NBA straight out of high school. It’s my favorite because I was able to accomplish my dream, but I very much wanted to go to college and pursue an education. ... Despite missing out on college, I’ve taken summer courses at Arizona State University and the University of Miami, and my favorite course was human geography." He continues, "I want to get my college degree; it will just have to happen down the road because I can only take summer courses or online classes" (NEWSWEEK, 8/6 issue).

GET IN THE RING: ESPN.com's Dan Rafael reported boxer ZAB JUDAH's promoter will soon "probably be 50 CENT's newly formed TMT Promotions." Judah said, "I've been knowing 50 for a long time. His brain for business is phenomenal. ... I like what 50 brings to the table. It's a great game plan. I think it will be a very good situation that will play out in boxing. It'll be something new and fresh." He added that his contract with Main Events "had run out and that he was a free agent" (ESPN.com, 7/31). Rafael in a separate piece noted late trainer and Boxing HOFer JIM DUNDEE's son, ANGELO, is putting up for sale several collectible items through SCP Auctions. The items "include the fight-worn gloves" of Boxing HOFer MUHAMMAD ALI when he won the heavyweight championship for the first time, from Boxing HOFer SONNY LISTON in '64, and Ali's fight-worn gloves from his "first legendary bout" against Boxing HOFer JOE FRAZIER in '71 (ESPN.com, 7/31).

ON THE MARKET: In N.Y., Peter Lattiman notes Forstmann Little, the private equity firm that owns 24 Hour Fitness, has hired Goldman Sachs to run the auction process for the sale of the fitness chain. 24 Hour Fitness is "expected to fetch about” $2B in the sale. With about 425 locations, 24 Hour Fitness “is the nation’s largest privately owned chain of fitness centers” (N.Y. TIMES, 8/1).

NAMES: Actors WILL FERRELL and ZACH GALIFIANAKIS yesterday visited the Hockey HOF in Toronto as part of a promotional tour for the upcoming movie, "THE CAMPAIGN" (N.Y. POST, 8/1)....Yankees SS DEREK JETER on Monday "was seen out" with model HANNAH DAVIS. The two "have been seeing each other casually for several months" (N.Y. POST, 8/1).